KAMPALA — Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, issued a stark warning on Monday, revealing that lower-level health facilities are operating at just 39% of their required staffing levels.
The disclosure comes as the nation prepares for the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni for his seventh term in office tomorrow.
Speaking to reporters in Kampala, Dr. Aceng attributed the critical shortage to “limited government wage allocations,” which she said have effectively frozen recruitment despite a growing population and rising disease burden.
“Our healthcare workers are overstretched and overburdened,” Dr. Aceng said.
“Operating at less than 40% capacity in rural clinics means that the most vulnerable Ugandans are often left without life-saving interventions.”
The staffing crisis is particularly acute in districts like Tororo, which reported a Shs 24 billion budget shortfall this week, threatening the continuity of basic services.
Despite these challenges, the Minister noted that the Lubowa Specialized Hospital remains on track to open by the end of 2026, a project that has faced years of scrutiny regarding its funding and delays.
Politically, the capital is in a state of high alert. High-level delegations from across the continent, including the ruling party leaders of Burundi and South Sudan, arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Monday.
President Museveni’s upcoming term is expected to prioritize “Trade, Industrialization, and Youth Transition,” according to government spokespeople, though the opposition continues to question the transparency of the electoral process that returned him to power.
In the security sector, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) passed out 53 platoon commanders in Agago district, emphasizing the need for disciplined leadership as the military continues its operations against residual rebel elements and cross-border cattle rustlers.
